2022 NBA Draft workout tracker for the OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
The 2022 NBA Draft is right around the corner, an important offseason for the OKC Thunder who have four top 34 picks in the upcoming draft. The NBA Draft Lottery will be ever important for the Thunder in two weeks, but until then, the work starts now. Sam Presti, Mark Daigneault, and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder front office brass and coaching staff are getting down to business. They have begun conducting Predraft workouts with 2022 NBA Draft prospects.
The Oklahoma City Thunder elect to not make their predraft workouts public nor have them met with the local media. Other teams release full lists and offer some media availability. However, the Sam Presti route is the smarter choice when running a basketball organization. Though, these things still leak out via agents, prospects themselves, and other various sources. This article will be updated consistently as I get new information on who the OKC Thunder has worked out ahead of the NBA Draft. So bookmark this article and refer back to it as this process moves fast and furious, there is a good chance this list will change daily from now until the draft.
OKC Thunder begins their NBA Predraft process, conducting workouts with a wide range of prospects
The OKC Thunder have three workouts scheduled tomorrow that I have confirmed with sources along with Richard Stayman that begins what will be a wild predraft ride for Oklahoma City. The NBA Combine will feature media availabilities that will give even more updates on schedules and reveal even more players who have already worked out with OKC. That week-long event starts on May 16th, with the NBA Lottery taking place on May 17th.
OKC Thunder NBA Draft workout tracker:
Keon Ellis, G/F, 6’6, 198 pounds, Alabama
Keon Ellis is ranked 37th on my NBA Draft big board out of Alabama averaging 14 points per game, and hauling in seven rebounds per game. Despite being 6’6 he played a guard role for Alabama at times but never averaged more than 1.8-assists while averaging a turnover a game in his career. He is 22 years old and was an All-SEC defender for Alabama.
Jordan Goldwire, G, 6’3, 184 pounds, Oklahoma
Jordan Goldwire played four seasons at Duke before transferring to the University of Oklahoma for this past college basketball season. Goldwire is 22 years old and was an All-ACC Defensive player during his time with the Blue Devils. As a 5th year Senior with the Sooners, Goldwire averaged ten points per game to go along with two assists and three rebounds per tilt. The 6’3 guard is a sub-30-percent three-point shooter for his college career.
Tyson Jolly, G, 6’4, 205-pounds, IONA
Jolly is a 24-year-old guard from Muskogee, Oklahoma but played his High School ball at Putnam City West. Jolly averaged 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists during his college career which spans three schools Baylor, SMU, and IONA. In two different college seasons, Jolly produced 14 points per game including last year shooting 37 percent from three.
There are two other names as of now that I can not reveal but will soon. On top of whatever else is found out during this process. Stay tuned to this article for the latest names OKC has worked out.
John Knight, 6’3, 205, Iona
John Knight shot 25 percent from three for his college career and is a two-time All-Big Sky member while averaging 14 points per game.
Davion Warren, G, 6’6, 210, Texas Tech
Davion Warren started his college career at Hampton where he was an All-Big South conference member before transferring for his final year of eligibility at Texas Tech. For the Red Raiders, Warren averaged nine points, three rebounds, and an assist per game while shooting 30 percent from three but being a 71 percent career free-throw shooter leads NBA scouts to believe he can improve as a jump shooter. Warren averaged more than a steal per tilt. The big knock on Warren has been his turnovers.
Lester Quinones, G, 6’5, 208, Memphis
Lester Quinones comes out of IMG Academy in High School from his hometown in Brentwood, New York. The 21-year-old Tiger won AAC All-Freshman honors during the 2019-20 season. the 6’5 guard averaged ten points and three rebounds per game with over a steal per tilt on the defensive end. Quinones found his three-point shot last year shooting 40-percnet from deep on four attempts per game for the second consecutive season.
Isaiah Wong, G, 6’3, 185, Miami
The Oklahoma City Thunder have also brought in Isaiah Wong for a predraft workout. Wong helped lead Miami to the Elite Eight this past season and in tandem with entering the NBA Draft entered the NCAA Transfer portal telling the Hurricanes he would only return to the school if they increased his NIL money-making opportunities. Wong got what he was looking for so if he fails to make the grade he is searching for during this predraft process all signs point to him returning to Miami in the Fall. Wong shot 30 percent from deep last year, down three percent from his career average. Though during Miami’s pro day his jump shot looked much improved.
Drew Timme, C, 6’10, 235-pounds, Gonzaga
Timme is a college standout from Gonzaga, at 21 years old he has limited upside with many questioning how his game translates to the NBA level.
Bryce McGowens, G, 6’7, 179-pounds, Nebraska
In 31 games as a freshman at Nebraska, McGowens posted 16 points, five rebounds, and an assist per game. McGowens is climbing up draft boards, but still should be available in the pick 30-34 range.
Kendall Brown, G/F, 6’8, 205-pounds, Baylor
In 34 games as a freshman, Brown posted nine points, five rebounds, and two assists per game while collecting a steal per contest on the defensive end of the floor. On his way to Big 12 All-Freshman honors. Brown met with the team at the combine, and I have a first-round grade on him.
Malaki Branham, G, 6’5, 180-pounds, Ohio State
Branham is gaining some high lottery buzzer, but might still be available at pick 12 for Sam Presti to select the 2021-22 All-Big Ten member, All-Freshman squad, and the conference’s rookie of the year. Branham posted 13-points, three rebounds, two assists, and nearly a steal per game on 41 percent shooting from deep.
Patrick Baldwin Jr, F, 6’9, 220, Milwaukee
Patrick Baldwin Jr is an interesting 6’9 forward with huge injury concerns which likely led to why Baldwin Jr only leaped at a vertical that compares to Dakari Johnson at the combine. In college he only played in 11 games before being shut down due to injury, averaging 12 points, five rebounds, an assist, and nearly one steal and block per game. The Sussex, Wisconsin native played for his dad in college at Milwaukee but shot just 26 percent from beyond the arc. Huge injury concerns and a lackluster shooting performance at the combine had led to questions on his draft range.
Jeremy Sochan, Wing, 6’9, 230, Baylor
Jeremy Sochan can do it all defensively switching 1-5 and locking down opponents both on and off-ball. Like any great college defender he was known to take a risk on that end of the floor, but he fits perfectly into the modern NBA as a defender, playmaker, and rebounder. While his jump shot needs to come around, the Guymon, Oklahoma native would be perfect for the 12th pick if he is still on the board.
Makur Maker, Big, 6’11, 232, Adelaide NBL
Maker has a second-round grade but could easily be undrafted, if he is the pick for OKC it would be them buying back into the late stages of the second round or hopping on the phone after the draft.
TyTy Washington, Guard, 6’3, 197, Kentucky
TyTy Washington should see his name called within the first 30 selections
Tari Eason, Forward, 6’8, 216, LSU
Tari Eason has seen mixed reviews during the predraft process but his value should fall within the top 20 selections.
Jaden Hardy, Guard, 6’4, 198, G-League Ignite
The NBA G-League Ignite program has been fantastic for young players, and Hardy is the next in line to come through the program. He averaged 17 points per game, three assists, and a steal per tilt but is a pure bucket getter who can not shoot triples at a high clip shooting just 26 percent from beyond the arc.
Jabari Smith Jr, 6’10, 210, Auburn
Jabari Smith Jr is supposed to go number one overall, but he revealed on Thursday he is only working out with the Magic and OKC.
Paolo Banchero, 6’10, 250, Duke
A pure bucket getter who is nearly a lock for the top three in the 2022 NBA Draft and arguably has the best scoring upside. Banchero was spotted around Bricktown on Thursday which leads many to believe he had a workout with the organization.
Ochai Agbaji, 6’5, 214, Kansas
I think Agbaji is the safest pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, I do not see any bust potential with Kansas forward but at 22 years old he might have already hit his ceiling.
Jalen Williams, 6’6, 235, Santa Clara
Jalen Williams is one of the biggest 2022 NBA Draft risers since the NBA Combine, the Santa Clara forward shot 39 percent from deep on his way to averaging 18 points, four assists, and a steal per game.
Johnny Davis, 6’4, 196, Wisconsin
Johnny Davis is a pure bucket getter, which the OKC Thunder desperately need. Davis shot 33 percent from three, he posted 20-points and eight rebounds per game for the Badgers while playing very good defense.
Shaedon Sharpe, 6’4, 198, Kentucky
While Shaedon Sharpe did not play at Kentucky he is still viewed as one of the best prospects in the NBA Draft, Sharpe is a great athlete who can shoot the deep ball and is comfortable creating space for himself and shooting off the bounce. While his defense is suspect, his frame and athletic ability shed light on his potential. In games he has been locked in for, his defense is miles better than what people give him credit for.
MarJon Beauchamp, 6’5, 193, G-Leauge Ignite
MarJon Beauchamp told me that he held a zoom interview with the OKC Thunder in front of Sam Presti, Nick Collison, and other members of the Thunder organization. The G-League Ignite product did not conduct a workout for the team, but the zoom meeting still seemed noteworthy.
Andrew Nembhard, 6’5, 193, Gonzaga
This would be a great candidate at pick 34, he shot 38 percent from three-point land while shooting 11 points, three rebounds, and five assists per game.
Chet Holmgren, 7’0, 195, Gonzaga
Chet Holmgren’s workout date and info have not been released yet, though ESPN confirmed he did conduct a workout in OKC. He speaks with those of us in the Media on Monday and we will attempt to get more clarity.
Kennedy Chandler, 6’0, 172, Tennessee
Kennedy Chandler was in the workout with Jalen Williams in OKC, and while it does not seem likely he will fall to 34, he is still one of my favorite prospects in this draft. As of right now, there is not a clear path for him to land in Bricktown.
Keegan Murray, 6’8, 215, Iowa
Keegan Murray is one of the top players in the draft, and when he met with those of us in the media, he confirmed that he worked out with OKC. Murray is not in the OKC Thunder range as it appears he will be selected by the 5th pick and I do not see OKC using the 2nd pick on the Iowa forward. Though, could they trade up? Sure, but it is unlikely they would target Murray with a trade-up that is very hard to pull off.
Silvio De Sousa, 6’9, 245, Kansas/UT-Chattanooga
I do not think De Sousa will be selected in the NBA Draft, though maybe he can be a UDFA candidate or a Summer League addition.
Marcus Weathers, 6’5, 215, SMU
Marcus Weathers has been in college since 2016 and he is a sub-30-percent shooter from distance. Again, I do not think he will hear his name called on draft night, though there are still plenty of opportunities.
Dereon Seabron, 6’7, 180, North Carolina State
The North Carolina State product averaged 17-points per game on 49 percent shooting from the floor on his way to an All-ACC honor in the past season.